Transylvania Today Premium Edition 2015-2016

CLUJ-N CLUJ-NAPOCA PREMIUM CITY Special Edition 2015

Recomandations: From Treasure City to Transylvania’s Silicon Valley

Visiting the Treasure City

The Royal House of Romania

p. 52

p. 8 p. 12

Best Museums in Cluj Turda Salt Mine

The Roman Limes for UNESCO

p. 54 p. 53

p. 57

A project of

www.clujtoday.ro

Cluj Today and Transylvania Today Associations Project manager: Rada Morar Editorial manager: Bianca Pădurean Editor in chief: Claudiu Pădurean

Cluj-Napoca City Hall and The Local Council

Cover photo: United Business Center © Arhimar General Designer Printed by:

CLUJ-NAPOCA 2015 – European Youth Capital We support CLUJ-NAPOCA 2021 European Capital of Culture, candidate city

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EDITORIAL

Cluj-Napoca, the Premium City The city of Cluj-Napoca is one of the most surprising communities in Central Europe. In the last 25 years, this community has managed to definitively separate itself from its communist legacy and regain its Central European identity.

The city flourished because it relied on creativity and innovation. It regained its position as Transylvania’s most important city and also its fame as Romania’s Cambridge. Of the 500,000 inhabitants of the metropolitan area, 20 percent are university students. In addition, the young population also includes students learning in what can be considered the best high schools in Romania.

Together, they form a dynamic and highly skilled workforce, which continues to attract companies relying on their innovative spirit. Since the fall of communism, Cluj-Napoca has managed to quit inefficient economic sectors such as heavy industry, and rely on the industries that produce a higher added value, from the IT industry to the production of high-tech components for the automotive or energy industries.

The city of Cluj-Napoca has also become one of the international, trend-setting art centres, as well as a favourite spot for those looking to invest in services that require highly skilled employees. Foreign investment in Cluj-Napoca has generated an increased labour flow within the city. Every year, many young people who complete their studies in other communities come to Cluj-Napoca to build a career.

Furthermore, its high performing universities attract young people from other European countries and from outside the European Union.

The largest francophone academic community east of Switzerland is located in Cluj-Napoca, and the number of students studying in English or German is also on the upward trend.

Cluj-Napoca is a much cheaper city compared to other European university cities. Urban transportation is cheap, as well, and constantly improving, while its hospitals provide not only professional healthcare, but they are also at the forefront of European research in areas such as: cancer treatment, cardiovascular illness or renal transplantation.

Internet speed is also ranked to be among the highest in Europe, and connections with other cities are well developed, due to the international airport.

The old part of town is increasingly becoming a major tourist destination, being well promoted at international fairs. All these arguments were of great importance when designating Cluj-Napoca as the European Youth Capital, this year. At the same time, it will turn the city into a perfect candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2021. This is also what makes Cluj-Napoca Romania’s premium city.

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INTERVIU

Cluj-Napoca – a Youth Capital and a Dynamic, Effervescent City Reporter: This year Cluj-Napoca is the European Youth Capital. What is the effect of this title on your community?

Emil Boc: The fact that Cluj-Napoca won the 2015 European Youth Title, following a competition with other European important cities is an honor for our community.

Furthermore, this title makes us more visible within the European institutions. This aspect might not be noticed directly by our citizens, but on long term, it will definitely help us consolidate our identity amongst other cities with similar profile.

First of all, this title brings us an increased and diverse number of events, offered both to our inhabitants and to our visitors. Just think about the fact that more than 1500 events are already confirmed on the cultural agenda of this major event! This is a major opportunity for our youth to get involved in our community life and get their voice heard in shaping their future.

Emil Boc, mayor of Cluj-Napoca

Another positive aspect of being 2015 European Youth Capital is the fact that promoters of youth events have the chance to access public financing.

Basically, the municipality has found financial resources in order to support a large number of events organized by local NGOs. It is a real proof of our community consensus towards one of our medium- term goals: becoming the 2021 European Capital of Culture.

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Reporter: Cluj-Napoca is still an attractive destination for investors, and the development of your city could be a good example for other communities from Central and Eastern Europe. Which are the reasons that determine foreign investors to come to Cluj-Napoca?

Emil Boc: Cluj-Napoca is a dynamic city, always trying to update its economic policies in accordance with the macro economical evolution. We are aware of the fact

INTERVIU

that predictability is the first thing that investors require while deciding where to invest. Therefore, for almost two years we worked on the development strategy of Cluj-Napoca. It was one of the most participative processes of strategy design ever organized in Romania, involving experts from various fields: academic, administrative, business, culture, educations, NGOs, civil society.

Young, well-educated, competitive and qualified labour force is the main asset of Cluj –Napoca that manages to convince important companies to invest here. Moreover, having the quality of life as the keystone of our strategy, is constantly mobilising us to be better. We are nationally and internationally recognized as being a safe, nice and friendly city.

Our municipality is constantly and consistently communicating with the business environment in order to make sure the business-related proccesses are carried on successfully. Within the municipality, we have a special Office for Investors, providing information and support in relation to all local authories.Furhermore, we created a website so investors can reach us easily and get the first feeling of what Cluj-Napoca is businesswise. (www.clujbusiness.ro)

From vision to practice, presently we are developing an ambitious project which consists in developing a new neighbourhood of Cluj-Napoca, which will grant infrastructure for about 100.000 inhabitants.This new concept envisages from IT offices, residential and services areas to research centers, developed together with our prestigious universities.

Young, well-educated, competitive and qualified labour force is the main asset of Cluj -Napoca that manages to convince important companies to invest here.

Reporter: Cluj-Napoca is the national growth pole in IT industry. How does the muncipality support the development of this industry?

On the other hand, at the local level we are constantly reinforcing our commitment to maintain Cluj-Napoca as a European IT hub and therefore always looking for new local incentives to implement.

Emil Boc: We are aware of the fact that the IT industry is one of Cluj-Napoca’s strategic economic engines. In this respect, our administration efforts have been focused on influencing both national and European policies in finding resources to finance this sector.

By understanding this, we have already invested in Lomb area and now the municipality is about to finalize CREIC – Regional Center for Excellence in the Creative Industries and TEAM Center– Technology, Evolution, Entrepreneurship, SMEs.

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CULTURE

Servus! Cluj-Napoca for 2021 – European Capital of Culture Servus! It stands for hello, for the world-famous welcoming spirit of Cluj-Napoca and now also as a tagline for the city’s undergoing project to become the European Capital of Culture in 2021, a venture that started to take shape in 2009.

Coming from the Latin expression “Servus tuus sum” (I am your servant), “Servus” is a word that links Cluj-Napoca to its Roman founders, two millennia ago, and that miraculously returned here some four centuries ago, under German and Austrian influence.

Servus 2021 talks about our aspiration to fulfil our potential as a community - it is shared by different ethnic groups in Transylvania (and various cultures in Europe), it is the way you greet people which you approach as equal. It represents openness, trust and familiarity. It is the synthesis of the East meeting West.

Our concept – East of West – reflects our project of establishing a fresh reference point in terms of culture in the East, while opening a gateway to the West for the rest of the world. We are living in a space characterized by the confluence of diverse cultures, and this is what makes this city so unique. As we are assuming, with self-irony, our paradoxes, we are aiming to nurture appreciation and build around our vibrant cultural life – defined by a multicultural university life, rising profile in contemporary arts, grass-

roots initiatives that provide change in our community.

Europe, just like us, needs to regain its trust - the trust for each other, the trust in a common and bright future.

Europe needs new models of civic attitude and civic engagement, new models of cohabitation, collaboration, closeness and production of values and well-being.

We have what it takes to become the perfect ‘laboratory’ for testing all these models and processes.

Our programme has at its core culture as an element of change and regeneration (rejuvenation). Culture can be the catalyst, the tool which helps us activate and stimulate our social processes, which can help us become a community. Through culture we can mobilize the specific local energies and nurture their European calling.

If Servus says something to you, we are sure you will also find your place looking ahead to Cluj-Napoca in 2021. If you are coming from the East or from the West, we are confident you will also find a direction in what will be the shape of the city as the European Capital of Culture.

For further information about the programme: www.clujnapoca2021.ro/en The team of Cluj-Napoca 2021 European Capital of Culture Association Transylvania Today Premium edition | 7

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From Treasure City to Transylvania’s Silicon Valley

Urban Culture Central Casino located in the Central Park of Cluj Cluj-Napoca has become one of the most dynamic commercial centres in Central Europe. Basically, it is the largest business centre from amongst Bucharest, Budapest and Belgrade, and also Romania’s second largest city after the capital city of Bucharest when it comes to the number of inhabitants and its burgeoning economy. With over 300,000 inhabitants in the city limits and approximately 500,000 inhabitants within the metropolitan area, Cluj-Napoca is a city of superlatives. The city hosts Babes-Bolyai University, the largest and oldest university in the country, having been founded in 1581.

This city is also home to the largest Hungarian university outside of Hungary, Sapientia University. The Faculty of Medicine from within The University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu”, with 2,500 young learners studying in both English and French is the faculty with

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the largest population of foreign students. The best faculty of veterinary medicine in Romania from within The University of Agricultural Studies and Veterinary Medicine can also be found in Cluj-Napoca. The students and professors of the Technical University are among the winning medallists of international invention fairs every year, while graduates of the University of Art and Design have won many competitions against representatives of international fashion houses. Local painters such as Adrian Ghenie are among the most acclaimed young artists worldwide, and graduates from The Gheorghe Dima Music Academy, such as Simona Noja, now the director of the School of Ballet of The Vienna State Opera, have earned international reputations. In fact, the 100,000, MA and doctoral students represent the main reason for which many multinational companies have decided to invest in Cluj-Napoca.

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the prestigious magazine Paris Match would choose to call Cluj-Napoca “Transylvania’s Silicon Valley”. International rankings include the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics among the top 500 in the world thus proving once more that Cluj-Napoca harbours a durable tradition in scientific studies.

Foto: http://transylvaniacam.com

In the interwar years, Prince Emil Racoviţă created the first Institute of Speleology in the world, which additionally led to the discovery of the science of biospeology.

During the same period, scientist Hermann Oberth, who earned undeniable merits in the conquest of cosmic space, became doctor of University King Ferdinand I. At the present time, some of the most interesting scientific projects in the world are hosted in Cluj-Napoca. Striking examples in this respect would be the artificial blood project whose discovery was made by local scientist Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu or IT projects benefiting NASA or ESA.

The title of European Youth Capital which the city was awarded in 2015 enhances its attractiveness and turns it into a perfect candidate in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture of 2021. The universities in Cluj-Napoca provide a wide range of comprehensive studies, even at a post-doctoral level, in languages such as: Romanian, Hungarian, German, English and French. The Faculty of Letters yearly provides speakers of “exotic” languages like Norwegian or Korean. According to the latest international rankings, this very faculty is among the top 200 in the world in the field of Modern Languages.

Cluj-Napoca became a national growth pole in the IT industry and its 20,000 IT specialists and students at the Faculties of Mathematics, Computer Science and Automation represent the well-trained elite, justifying why

Besides the top IT companies such as SAP, Siemens, ISDC or Yonder who have invested in Cluj-Napoca, there are a number of companies established here, such as AROBS or iQuest which became multinational companies after benefitting from Romania’s accession to the European Union. Cluj-Napoca, however, does not owe its development solely to the IT sector. Industrial production by way of Tetarom’s three industrial parks has also managed to attract significant investment coming from large companies such as: Emerson, Bosch or DeLonghi. In the financial sector, the most important Romanian owned bank, “Banca Transilvania” is headquartered in Cluj-Napoca.

Also, with a traffic of more than 1.2 million passengers on a yearly basis, The International Airport “Avram Iancu” in Cluj-Napoca is the second most important in Romania, right behind the international airport in Bucharest.

The city hosts the largest multi-purpose hall in Romania, while the two stadiums, Cluj Arena and “Dr. Constantin Radulescu” Stadium have been awarded five, and respectively four UEFA stars.

All this is meant to show that, after five decades of dictatorship, Cluj-Napoca appears to have found its very own path to the prosperity which once brought it the title of ”The Treasure City”. Thus, the city honours its bimillenary historic heritage. The city’s first official evidence dates from the year 107 and from 124 Cluj-Napoca became a”municipium” and was then turned into a Roman colony. In the middle Ages, during the reign of King Charles Robert of Anjou of Hungary, it became a free royal city.

Cluj-Napoca was also the capital of Transylvania, the second largest city under the Kingdom of Hungary and is now the second largest city in Romania. The wish of the local authorities is for Cluj-Napoca to become the city in Romania with the best quality of life. Cluj-Napoca has already been named Europe’s most foreigner-friendly city and also the city with the cleanest air in Europe.

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HISTORY

Transylvania, the Heart of Europe Bran Castle commonly known as Dracula’s Castle Transylvania gained world-wide fame through two famous pieces of literature. One of these is Bram Stoker’s popular novel Dracula, which is why this land is known today as the realm of vampires. In his narrative, the Irish writer depicted the Transylvanian cities of Cluj and Bistrita along with the Carpathians, the location which serves as the dwelling place of the notorious Count Dracula. The story is inspired by the myth of the vampire.

However, beyond the myth there is the legend and legends usually spring from facts and history.

The second narrative that made Transylvania a household name is Jules Verne’s novel The Carpathian Castle.

This love story features a beautiful countess and is considered one of the most enchanting pieces in world literature. The Castle depicted in the novel is a very important fortress of the age, namely the early Medieval Colt Fortress “Cetatea de Colţ” situated in the Southern Carpathians.

The places that inspired the novels Dracula and the Castle in the Carpathians For local Romanians the name Dracula is an alias for Vlad Ţepeş. This infamous historical figure was not a count but a prince, and he was not considered a vampire but

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a brave fighter of Ottoman oppression. He had become a hero in the eyes of his people due to his outstanding courage and drive and also due to his righteousness and unimpaired sense of justice which made him seem ruthless in the eyes of those who violated the laws of the age.

His favourite method of punishment was impalement. Ţeapă is the Romanian word for stake and this is how he earned the nickname of Ţepes.

According to local folklore he was called Drăculea or Dracula by his subjects, namely the son of Dracu (the Devil). His father, the great Wallachian prince had become a knight in the order of the Dragon, a medieval order established by Sigismund, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince wore a gorget decorated with a dragon, the sign of the Order. The Latin equivalent of the word dragon is draco. The son of Vlad the Draco or Dragon, Vlad Dracula (little dragon), was born in the medieval fortress of Sighisoara, situated in the south of Transylvania, which, today, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The above mentioned Vlad Ţepeş reigned over the principality three times and managed to defeat the great Mehmed conqueror of Constantinople. He was killed in a battle against the Ottomans in 1476. The touristic inheritance left behind by the prince is present today in Transylvania and Wallachia alike.

HISTORY

Transylvania, Prince Charles’s Favourite Location

This land is considered to be where Byzantine culture and art, promoted by the Orthodox Church along with Gothic and Baroque architecture create a unique amalgam of artistic and cultural diversity. It is also the place where northern and southern European cultural influences meet and interact. The small wooden Orthodox churches from Maramureş (Ieud, Rogoz or Plopiş) display an austere, minimalist design - typical of the wooden churches of Scandinavia. This humble simplicity is combined with lavish interior decorations that are genuine examples of traditional Romanian craftsmanship, thus creating a melting pot of Italian and Austrian Baroque and Byzantine ornaments.

The south of Transylvania - the area called Banat, hosts picturesque valleys of the Danube that abound in almond and fig trees. The northern part of Transylvania, Maramureş, is dominated by the Carpathians, an area renowned for its vast and thick pine forests. On the highest peaks of the Carpathians, the snow last for half a year, just as in Scandinavia. In the valleys, however, the temperatures can climb, creating a climate favourable for wine production, hosting one of the finest vineyards of Europe.

Prince Charles at Viscri

Oradea, Columbus’s Prime Meridian

As mentioned above, this mythical land has served as the setting for many narratives; however, it is a place worth discovering. Not just as a reader as its wonders reach beyond the realm of literary inspiration.

His Royal Highness, Prince Charles was so taken by the natural and historical richness that he had purchased an estate in Transylvania in the picturesque little village of Viscri. He has also invested funds in the restoration of several architectural treasures of former Transylvanian nobility such as the Bánffy Castle of Bontida in Cluj County.

Transylvania is promoted by other members of the English Royal Family. For example, some of them spend their Christmas’ regularly at Săvârșin Castle in Arad County, a spectacular example of feudal architecture.

The Geographic Centre of Europe Very few Europeans know that Transylvania is located in the heart of the continent. The Geographic centre of Europe is actually situated in the northern part of Transylvania, namely the region called Maramureş. According to some topographic measurements; the exact centre of the continent is the historical region of Maramureş, more specifically a little village in Ukraine inhabited by Romanians.

However, another study identifies, Vişeul de Sus, a small town from Maramureş, as the centre. Whichever one might be the most accurate answer both studies can be considered topographic proof that Transylvania is indeed on the border between East and West. Historically speaking this central area was part of the Roman and, later, the Byzantine Empires and in the early Middle Ages it was under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire.

Oradea in the Middle Ages, 1617. Engraving by Braun and Hogenberg.

The western part of Transylvania, the city of Oradea serves as the eternal dwelling place of the Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund of Luxemburg and it was home to the most important Observatory in Europe. The latter institution was founded by the famous renaissance savant, Ioan Vitez of Zredna, educator of Iancu de Hunedoara’s (the last crusader’s) children.

This Observatory made Oradea the Prime Meridian between the years 1464 – 1667, later on it was moved to Paris and eventually London. Thus Christopher Columbus set sail towards America using the calculus made here, in Oradea. He also used this Meridian to prove that the Earth is round.

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HISTORY

The Royal House of Romania The Engine of the Nation’s Development In the year 2016, Romanian Royalty will celebrate 150 years since first gaining political power in the country after the coronation of Carol I, a historical figure who had been subject to many transformations throughout the years. The Royal family played an important role in the modernization and democratization of Romania. In the year 1866, when Carol I took over power, the country had been merely a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, with an under-developed infrastructure and a rather medieval economy. However, by 1914 - the year when its king died - due to the efforts of the crown, Romania had been already a regional power that had won two consecutive wars: the war of independence (Russo-Turkish War 1877 – 1878) and the Second Balkan War (1913).

By this time, the infrastructure of the country was in full development, as Romanian engineers had built several famous architectural masterpieces such as the Iron Bridge across the Danube in Cernavodă, the longest Bridge in Europe. Furthermore, Aurel Vlaicu and Traian Vuia had been the pioneers of aviation at that time. King Carol enabled economic development by introducing favourable laws and encouraging it personally by his involvement in different projects. He invested capital in local enterprises such as the Beer Factory in Azuga.

He also invited foreign investors to open businesses in Romania and similarly encouraged Romanian businessmen to operate on the European market. His successors to the throne Ferdinand I, Carol II and Mihai I followed in his footsteps.

Before the establishment of the communist regime, Romanian industry had experienced rapid development.

By 1935, Romanian agriculture had been one of the most productive in Europe. According to statistics, Romania exported methane gas and petrol. It was also well known for its iron and coal exploitation. Romania was at the top of the European charts and 14th in the world in gold mining. In aluminium production it was in second place and Mica, it was in third place on global charts. They exported copper and salt to countries all over Europe and mineral water all over the world. The countries industries abounded in oil distilleries, steel mills and ports and on the sea and major rivers.

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In 1866, Romania did not have even one kilometre of railway, but by 1935 the country was already in possession of one of the most modern and well-balanced railway systems in Eastern Europe as well as airports in all the historical regions of the country. The first local automobile and aircraft brands had been established: Malaxa and IAR. After the fall of communism, members of the royal family returned after an exile of half a century and have continued to encourage development of the Romanian economy ever since.

Over 60 economic entities have been labelled as Official Providers of the Royal House.; Furthermore, the members of the royal family had been involved in the promotion and export of local wines to Sweden and cereals to the Arab world. They continuously encourage major entrepreneurs from the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Japan, Spain, Canada, Australia, New Zeeland, Denmark, Sweden and other countries to invest in Romania.

His Royal Highness, Price Radu stated in a public event that “the royal family plans to continue its work in the future”. The event was a meeting held on 23rd of March, 2015 between His Royal Highness, Prince Radu and business people from Cluj-Napoca.

The royal family is involved in at least 12 official visits abroad each year and it would be a pleasure, not at all a burden, to make these visits useful for the citizens.

Foto: Daniel Angelescu

HISTORY

The Romanian Royals promote de local businesses abroad “I would like you to know that members of the royal family do not spend their days offering high patronages. This is a family that has never hesitated to roll up their sleeves and get down to business whenever it was necessary. His majesty, for instance, can fix your car. It is not a joke, in the 80s two Romanians asked for his help because their car broke down in Versoix and his majesty fixed it. Not to mention all of the other public actions performed by members of the royal family in the service of the prosperity and solidarity of their country”, said Prince Radu.

This method has been used for nearly a century by the British royal family, who never cease to promote and encourage the public and private enterprises of their country. If such a well-developed country like the United Kingdom, at this day and age, still benefits from the endorsement and economic promotion of the royal house, then Romania is even more in need of such endeavours from the part the royal house”, added His Royal Highness, Prince Radu when encouraging Romanian business people to seek the help of the Royal Family.

His Royal Highness highlighted the fact that the involvement of the royal family in such matters is part of a noble family tradition. ”I would like you to know that in 1926, when Queen Maria visited the United States of America and 400,000 people greeted her on the streets of Manhattan, she then launched a slogan that needed 70 or 80 years to become fashionable. She said: ‘Americans; come, invest and establish business in my country!’ This was in the year 1926”, His Royal Highness added Prince Radu also said in his speech.

“The best thing would be that, starting from tomorrow the important institutions of the city and municipality, political and academic institutions alike would not hesitate to pay a visit to the royal family in the Elisabeth Palace in order to have a low-key, bilateral discussion about how the Royal family could help the economic development of the city and how can it serve the community”, this was the message of his Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania. He also added that “The royal family is involved in at least 12 official visits abroad each year and it would be a pleasure, not at all a burden, to make these visits useful for the citizens”.

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ROYAL SUPPLIER

Tradition at the Heart of Transylvania Luna Solai. A luxury collection of cold pressed oils combining exquisite taste and healthy properties alongside a modern image and extensive experience and traditions in cold pressing processes.

Perfect for a healthy and balanced lifestyle, Luna Solai cold pressed oils provide you with all the natural richness of the seeds, thanks to a pure processing method which helps maintain a natural taste and all the nutrients of the seeds.

Passion for cold pressed oil: The story of our cold pressed oils starts back in 1998, in the Tulai family, in a village called Luna, in the heart of Transylvania. Luna is a place of tradition and experience in processing sun-flower seeds. This also inspired the name of our brand.

Luna Solai, as a brand, was established in 2012 in order to offer healthy rich oils to those people who appreciate a naturally traditional taste. At present, our range of products includes cold pressed oils made from sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, rape seeds and walnuts, but also a range of flavoured sunflower seeds oil with thyme, basil and chilli, pepper and thyme.

We have worked relentlessly to grow our business and our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Recognition for the quality of Luna Solai cold pressed oils is a natural consequence of all our hard work: 2012 - ISO 2200 – Luna Solai cold pressed oils are manufactured in a Quality Management System, in compliance with ISO 22000 regulations regarding Food Safety.

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2013 - The most loved brand in Transylvania 2014 – ITQI – Superior Taste Award 2014 – One Golden Award Star 2014 - The official supplier of the Royal House of Romania The end of 2014 also brought the title of Official Supplier of the Royal House of Romania, which stands as proof of the quality and the value of our brand.

The Tulai family has big plans for Luna Solai. Our products are sold in gourmet shops and traditional shops throughout Romania and abroad as well as online at our website. At the moment, we are working on creating a new production line which will give us the possibility to increase the quantity of the cold pressed oil we produce, while maintaining the same high quality of our products.

The Luna Solai story goes on, and we invite you to join us on this beautiful journey.

Foto: Daniel Angelescu

ROYAL SUPPLIER

Princess Margareta awarding Felicia Tulai Official Supplier of the Royal House of Romania certificate

www.lunasolai.com

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EXPATS

The City Where Expats Feel at Home Cluj-Napoca has always been a multicultural city. This can be traced back to the times when King Stephen V of Hungary was set on inviting German colonists to settle in the old capital of the Roman province of Dacia Porolissensis, with the purpose of helping to restore the community severely affected by Mongolian invasions.

Traditionally, Cluj-Napoca has been and is still the home of Romanians, Hungarians and Germans, and together with them, of other smaller traditional communities from Transylvania, such as Armenian, Jew, Roma and Greek populations. However, in the last 25 years, the multicultural and multi-ethnic character of the city of Cluj-Napoca has been enriched by the presence of expat communities. The latter have found a welcoming home in Cluj-Napoca as shown in a survey conducted by the European Commission, in the autumn of 2013, which furthermore proclaims Cluj-Napoca as Europe’s most foreigner-friendly city. The findings of this study were confirmed once more at the end of 2013 when a research study funded by the International Organisation for Migration and conducted at the Intercultural Institute of Timişoara and at the Human Rights Defence League in Cluj-Napoca, showed that the community profile in the city of Cluj-Napoca is more comparable to that of other multicultural cities par excellence such as Paris or Brussels, rather than that of Bucharest or Budapest.

More than 10,000 foreigners have settled in Cluj-Napoca over the past two and a half decades, a phenomenon which is responsible for implementing a complex net-

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work of institutions and civil society structures meant to help expats integrate into the local community.

Thus, Cluj-Napoca has become home to various consulates, honorary consulates and honorary vice-consulates such as: The Hungarian General Consulate, The Honorary Consulate of France, The Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands, The Honorary Consulate of Greece, The Honorary Consulate of Turkey, The Vice-Consulate of Italy, and The Honorary Consulate of Poland based in Câmpia Turzii.

There is also an impressive network of cultural institutes such as: The French Institute, British Council, The Italian Cultural Centre, The Confucius Cultural Centre, The German Cultural Centre and The Russian Cultural Centre.

Business people have also created their own business clubs.

Five of the most important have reunited under what is known as The International Committee. Here we have: Cluj Francophone Affairs Club, The German Business Club North Transylvania, The Dutch Business Club, The British Business Group and The Asian Business Group. Furthermore, there is The Spanish Business Group, and the business clubs of Hungarian businessmen such as: Eureka Chamber of Commerce of Carpathia. In addition to business organizations and associations there are also organizations for expat communities such as: Cluj International Women’s Club, The Francophone Students’ Association or Guttenberg, The German Speaking Students’ Association. As a result of foreign investment in Cluj-Napoca, over 100,000 job vacancies have been made available.

EXPATS

German Companies Confidently Invest in Transylvania

The mayor Emil Boc and the president of DWNT, Ludger Thol The German Economic Club in Northern-Transylvania (DWNT), with its headquarters in Cluj-Napoca is a forum for companies from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Romania.

The club members and guests from fields such as the economy, public institutions and culture are able to share information, opinions, experiences and different points of view within the organized monthly meetings, seminars as well as public events.

The over 120 members of DWNT constantly receive information about different subject areas such as the economy, finance, taxes and law. The club is also a contact point for companies who would like to invest in Romania, especially in the area of Northern Transylvania. Impor-

tant assistance can thus be given through initial contacts and assessments of the situation.

Every year, The DWNT Club organizes the famous “Herbstfest der Deutschen Wirtschaft” (Autumn Festival of German Business), a business event where German companies from the area of Northern Transylvania present their large spectrum of activities to the audience.

During the three days of the festival those who are interested have an opportunity to discover typical German cuisine, listen to traditional German music and by the end of the day maybe also sign an employment contract or make a business partnership with a German company.

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CONSULTANCY

Labour Taxation in Romania Some of the most important reasons that lead foreign businessmen to invest in Romania include a skilled workforce, with knowledge of foreign languages and also the low level of salaries in comparison to other developed countries.

Starting with net salaries, the analysis of salary costs extends to the tax on salaries and social contributions which are due to the Romanian state budgets.

In order to understand the mechanism of taxation of salaries in Romania, it is important to mention that the gross salary according to the individual labour contract and any other amount paid to employees as bonuses, represents the basis for calculating both the tax and social contributions that are due by employees (that are calculated, withheld and paid by the employer to the state budget), as well as the social contributions due by employers for their employees.

An important aspect of labour taxation is represented by the incomes treated as salaries and the salary benefits, that are taxed the same as incomes from salaries. A few examples of revenues from this category are the following: the remuneration of executives under a contract of mandate; administrators’ fees and the amount from the net profit due to the administrators of companies; the allowance received by employees during the delegation

and posting period for the part that exceeds the limit of 2.5 times the legal limit established for personnel in public institutions; the equivalent value of using any good from the business’ patrimony, for personal purposes; the subscriptions and phone costs, for personal purposes; accommodation, food, clothes and any other goods or services provided free of charge or at a lower value than the market price; the cancellation of a receivable of the employer over the employee etc.

According to existing fiscal regulations, certain salary incomes and salary benefits given to employees are exempted from tax on salaries and / or social contributions. Some of these fiscal facilities are: yy

exemption from payment of tax on salaries for the incomes from salaries, as a result of the activity of software development;

yy

exemption from payment of social contributions of the equivalent meal tickets, granted according to the law;

yy

exemption from payment of tax on salaries and social contributions for the contributions to an optional pension fund, covered by the employer for its employees, within the limit of 400 euro annually for each employee;

Mandatory social contributions

Rates applicable in 2015

Rates applicable from 2018

Employees’ contribution to unemployment fund

0.5%

0.5%

Company’s contribution to unemployment fund

0.5%

0.5%

0.25%

0.25%

Employees’ contribution to health insurance

5.5%

5.5%

Company’s contribution to health insurance

5.2%

5.2%

Company’s contribution for medical leave and health insurance benefits

0.85%

0.85%

Employees’ contribution to social security

10.5%

7.5%

Company’s contribution to social security for normal work conditions

15.8%

13.5%

Company’s contribution for work accidents and professional diseases, variable according to the risk class of the activity performed

0.15% - 0.85%

0.15% - 0.85%

39.95%

34.65%

Company’s contribution to the Guarantee Fund for the payment of salary debts

Total

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CONSULTANCY

yy

exemption from payment of social contributions for voluntary health insurance premiums, covered by the employer for its employees, within the limit of 250 euro annually for each employee.

Among financial facilities offered by the Romanian state are the subsidies for employment, for unlimited duration, of the graduates of an educational institution. Thus, employers who hire graduates and maintain labour relations with them, for at least 18 months from the start date of their activity, receive monthly, for a period of one year, for each graduate employed: a) an amount of 500 lei, for graduates of lower high school cycle or schools of arts and crafts; b) an amount of 600 lei, for graduates of upper secondary school or post-secondary education; c) an amount of 750 lei, for graduates of higher-degree education.

Starting with 2005, the flat tax rate of 16% is used for determination of the tax on salaries, which will be maintained until 2019, when it will be reduced to 14%, according to the project law concerning the changing of the Fiscal Code.

Employees who obtain a gross monthly salary up to 1,000 lei inclusive, benefit of personal deductions which lead to a reduction of taxable income with amounts between 250 lei and 650 lei, depending on the number of their dependents. For the employees who obtain a gross monthly salary between 1,001 lei and 3,000 lei inclusive, the personal deductions are digressive than the ones above, and the employees who obtain gross monthly salaries over the amount of 3,000 lei are not receiving the personal deduction.

Regarding the rates of mandatory social contributions, the percentages that apply in 2015 for calculating the social contributions due by employees and employers, and the proposed rates’ reduction starting with 2018, as it is stipulated in the project of changing the Fiscal Code, are mentioned in the enclosed table.

The monthly basis of calculating the mandatory social contributions is represented by the gross income obtained from dependent activities, excepting the following cases, when the basis of calculation is capped: yy

the calculation basis of the individual social security contribution is limited to an amount corresponding to five average gross salaries (5 x 2,415 lei for 2015);

yy

the calculation basis of the employer’s social security contribution cannot be higher than the product between the number of insured persons for which the employer pays contribution (N) and the value of 5 times the average gross salary (N x 5 x 2,415 lei for 2015);

Sorana Celina Cernea, chartered accountant, tax consultant and inancial auditor IAS Expert S.R.L. yy

the monthly calculation basis of the contribution for medical leave and health insurance benefits cannot be higher than the product between the number of insured persons in the month for which the contribution is calculated (N) and the value of 12 times the minimum gross salary (N x 12 x 1,050 lei starting with July 2015).

The system of labour taxation in Romania is subject to a process of modernization which will help improve its transparency, stability and predictability, in order to create, among other things, an attractive environment from the fiscal point of view for the foreign investors.

www.ias-expert.ro Transylvania Today Premium edition | 19

Foto: Radu Pădurean

EXPATS

Visit of French Ambassador at Cluj-Napoca City Hall

The Francophone Business Club of Cluj: a New Actor for Local Economic Development With more than 100 French companies and 1,000 French students, the presence of the French language in Cluj-Napoca is indisputable. Then why not create a network which would allow French-speaking companies and people with shared values and objectives to get to know each other, contribute to the economic development of the Cluj region and promote the French language?

Such was the thinking which led to the creation in 2011 of the Francophone Business Club of Cluj (C.FAC) which has been recognized as an association since April of 2014.

Mr. Bogdan Herea, CEO and founder of PITECH+PLUS, chairs the C.FAC together with the 4 other members of the Board of Directors. The members of the C.FAC are French-speaking women and men that live in Cluj or have an interest in the region and that have a decision-making function in a company, university or public office. Among the companies represented by the members of the Club are Energom, Tehnomat, BRD, Steelcase, PITECH+PLUS, Adecco, Schneider Electric Romania, Emerson and others.

The C.FAC aspires to gather French-speaking economic actors in Cluj in order to encourage the creation of business opportunities and partnerships. It is a forum for networking, exchanging ideas and building skills.

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In 2014, the C.FAC pursued two objectives. It promoted the practice of French language in the professional and academic world and thus contributed to a stronger connection between the two, and it contributed to the development of the business environment in Cluj by organising activities such as Speed Business Meetings, economic missions, conferences, seminars, training workshops and forums. It is also currently supporting already existing projects such as “Cluj European Youth Capital” (2015) and “Cluj - European Capital of Culture” (2021).

To accomplish these activities the Club undertakes collaborations with the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFER), the French economic mission Business France, the Embassy of France, Cluj-Napoca City Hall, Cluj-Napoca City Council, the French Institute of Cluj, universities, and business clubs just to name a few.

To contact C.FAC please refer to Mme. Mihaela Dobroiu, in charge of the development of the Club, at contact@cfac.ro

www.cfac.ro

BUSINESS

PITECH+PLUS, the Extended Story: From Cluj-Napoca to the World

Bogdan Herea, Founder & CEO PITECH+PLUS The first sign of success is when your name becomes a positive reference for others. When Cluj-Napoca received the honour of being the European Youth Capital for 2015, we understood that there has to be an extended story about this town that manages to capitalize so much on its inner values.

According to a report by the National Council for Financing Higher Education, the town has around 70,000 students. Therefore Cluj-Napoca is one the best places in Romania where youth and effervescence blend to create a progressive change for our society. In recent years, several tech companies have opened offices in Cluj-Napoca, which has made jobs plentiful and stimulate the skills development in the IT programming field.

Where once a company was constrained by its locality, today the technology development heralded a new era for businesses. From Cluj-Napoca to the Bahamas for a team of IT engineers working at PITECH+PLUS the distance was counted in a project developed for World Custom Organization.

PITECH+PLUS is a group of digital companies specializing in consultancy and outsourcing for the IT industry.

Established in December 2005 by businessman Bogdan Herea, the group is headquartered in Cluj-Napoca, with

offices in Târgu-Mureş, Bucharest, Paris, Brussels and Berlin. With a team of 250 IT engineers the group intends to bring its contribution to the industry development in two areas: education and innovation.

“AS our local businesses are building around the outsourcing principles, my philosophy is that nowadays, in order to evolve, there is a call for more than IT services.

As the outsourcing market continuously grew during the past years, the IT companies started to face new forms of competition. In my opinion, with micro-finance and the support of specialists dispensing business advice we can teach our students how to develop their entrepreneurial spirit. This way we can develop new pathways for growth”, says Bogdan Herea, Founder & CEO PITECH+PLUS. Nevertheless, innovation comes along with education. This is the reason why PITECH+PLUS launched ACADEMY+PLUS in 2014, a vocational school that teaches passionate people how to program according to industry standards.

With all these opportunities that young people in Cluj-Napoca have, it’s on them to become part of this extended story and to explore all the possible routes. Routes that can lead them from Cluj-Napoca to the world.

www.pitechplus.com Transylvania Today Premium edition | 21

CONSULTANCY

25 Years of Excellence in Business Darian has been the market leader for over a decade.

During the past 25 years, Darian became the most influential player in the valuation and consultancy sector. Adrian Crivii, CEO Darian, gives us insight into this accomplishment.

Reporter: Darian reaches its 25th year of existence. It is an important period because basically your company emerged at the same time as Romanian capitalism. How has it been over these 25 years?

Adriand Crivii: It is extremely important what we have achieved in these 25 years: the prestige and status that we reached in the Romanian market of consultancy and valuation. Step by step we built an independent business, a successful one, in a sensitive and basically unknown domain in Romania: consultancy. I started in the 1990’s from a partnership with a Swiss, Danilo Bertazzo, a very good friend of mine that used to run a sporting goods business. I have a background in research so for me his business wasn’t very interesting, I wanted to work in the IT market, database, financial management information systems, and developing Romanian companies through IT. This was my purpose after leaving the Institute of Computing where I used to be a researcher in 1990. But you see, even though our fields of expertise were so different we still respected each other and trusted each other, so we managed to build a business together. He was part of Darian until 2007. We were two people of different ages, different cultures and different backgrounds who managed to do serious business. I don’t know how many foreign businessmen were ripped off after coming to Romania through all these years or how many companies were founded and then had the same owners over a long term. He had great trust in me and taught me the first lessons of business. For instance our capital: even if one has more money or less money, in the company that money isn’t mine or yours; that is our money. It’s about understanding what a company means, what happens when every shareholder invests a certain amount of money and what happens with that money.

The second lesson I learned was that one should never rip off a client because if you do so it will be the last time you do it. There are some simple rules in business which I’ve learned and respected over the years. I still remember them after 25 years. For about two or three years I’ve

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Adrian Crivii, CEO DARIAN developed financial management information systems, then I was a retailer of authorized software. In 1993, I experienced a currency shock-wave. I was importing software to Romania for the price of 60 lei on the dollar and sold the software for 100 lei on the dollar. But when we had to buy dollars again to import more software the price was 200 lei on the dollar. After that we quit the retail market. I was never keen for this retail area. I always wanted to sell something creative, to sell knowledge and solutions to my clients. Therefore I entered the valuation market which was a fairly new domain in Romania. From the fall of 1992 and most of 1993 I acted in the consultancy sector, first in Cluj and then in nearby districts. After

CONSULTANCY

almost ten years, in 2000, I realized that if I don’t extend my business on a national scale my company’s future will be extremely difficult. From the 2000’s I entered the Bucharest consultancy market and from there we went nationwide. We have 20 offices around the country and almost 100 appraisers. These are people that valuate value wherever it is! We began with the valuation of national companies that were to be subject to privatization procedures. After that we began valuating the assets of these companies. Before the 2000’s the valuation market was very young. After that year when we were in full process of nationwide extending, thebanks started to give loans and serious companies valuation contracts emerged.

Also we had contracts for financial reporting, mergers, acquisitions, listing on stock exchange. We had important projects; Fondul Proprietatea was one of them. The most recent valuation for a stock exchange listing was Electrica. We have thousands of clients, big and small. But I think that one way or another we have had contracts with every important company in Romania. I think this is why our company is so strong. I’ve learned from Danilo that one should never rip off his clients and now I can add that one has to offer quality services in order to be respected on the market and to be appreciated. Another thing that Danilo told me was that when you meet a client or you meet someone to whom you want to sell something you have to think that your money is in his pocket. That`s why it is important that the client is satisfied. You have to

act in such a way that you earn that money. You have to convince the client that is worth paying that money for what he gets from you. The client has to never have the sensation that he pays for nothing.

Reporter: How does your company look like at this moment, after the economic crisis?

Adriand Crivii: I can surely say that the crisis was tough but not as tough for Darian as it was for other companies.

Why? Because at the beginning when I was saying in the 1990’s that I wanted to sell consultancy and valuation the private sector didn’t understand exactly what a private company is. They were asking me where I work, a local council, a municipality. They didn’t understand what a private company was. So I experienced my first crisis in 1994 because of fiscal devaluation, strong restructuring enterprises between 1994 and 1998. There were many more crises for my company which helped me to survive

It is extremely important what we have achieved in these 25 years: the prestige and status that we reached in the Romanian market of consultancy and valuation.

the last economic and financial crisis. Darian had pretty good financial results because consultancy services are well appreciated by clients when they experience problems. Anyway, we have been a valuation market leader for at least a decade. I’m not the one saying this, different statistics and public information are. Darian was always a people oriented company. Our success is due to the people who have worked for the company over the years. In the entire history of the company the medium age of its employees was never more than 30 years old.

Reporter: What does that mean?

Adriand Crivii: It means that Darian is the result of the enthusiasm and the will of youngsters to be professionals in a new domain, to be better. This profession is new in Romania but worldwide is well-known and appreciated. Acting according to ethical standards is one of the reasons we have lasted this long. The ingredients for our success are people, ethical and professional standards, technology and creativity. We always had innovative approaches because this way we earn a larger profit. This is the key to our success!

Reporter: What do you plan for the future?

Adriand Crivii: This company has a 25-year history and I think that the future will be at least as long due to the quality of its human resources. I think we will adapt to the market. We have a lot of products with little added value and we are aiming for higher added value as we always have.

And here I am thinking of our new projects: Fiscal Consultancy and Building Consultancy. These will be our new ways for developing the company and we are confident that the company will have constant and prosper growth.

www.darian.ro Transylvania Today Premium edition | 23

CONSULTANCY

Legal Expertise, the Key to Successful Business

Alexandra Gioarsă

Adina Ţimonea

“Be the best you can be” is the basic principle governing the law firm Gioarsă, Ţimonea, Câmpan (GTC) & Partners, in Cluj-Napoca. Established in 2013, it consists of a team of young lawyers whose moral values are based on reliability, flexibility and professionalism.

GTC & Partners offers specialized consultancy services in the field of commercial law (establishment of companies, mergers, divisions and everything in the field of corporate law); consultancy services in the area of industrial property (such as OSIM brand registration and consulting in the field of national and international brands, litigations). It also offers advice on real estate law, insurance law and transportation law, consultancy services in tourism, regarding IATA legislation and bank contracts.

The company has specialists in each of these areas of expertise.

Tania Câmpan The constant efforts for improvement in the legal field from the part of the associates are represented by the participation titles to various competitions in the field, providing high quality services.

GTC & Partners constantly promotes the idea of lawyer-client partnership by identifying the benefits of teamwork which is understood as a way of achieving performance and of increasing benefits for each party involved.

Transylvania Today Premium edition | 25

INVESTERS

TETAROM Industrial Parks

www.tetarom.ro

TETAROM - Your Trustworthy Partner. areas of the country: the particular geographical position, the international airport, the proximity to the western border, the tial investors a broad spectrum in terms of local resources.

TEATROM is the managing company of all four Tetarom Industrial Parks: TETAROM I (32 ha) TETAROM II (12 ha) TETAROM III (154 ha)

TETAROM IV (85 ha)

More than 50 national and international companies such as Emerson, De’Longhi, Bosch, Karl Heinz Dietrich, or Transylvania Bank are located here, adding to a total investment of over 350 million Euros and over 3,000 new jobs created.

Perspectives

 TETAROM I Industrial Park - Expansion and modernization, new buildings and a new business incubator.

Investment: ~ 15 mil Euros, in partnership with Cluj County Council  TETAROM IV Industrial Park – Under development, targeting industrial, logistic and photovoltaic industries.

Investment: ~12 mil Euros, in partnership with Cluj County Council  TETAPOLIS Science and Technology Park – Early stage of development, in partnership with I.A.S.P.

Reasons to invest     

Prestigious university center Solid transport and communication infrastructure Good geographical position

 Available work force  Cluj-Napoca is a „best cost“ location for foreign investors  Important cultural and traditional heritage  Top clients in all industrial parks TETAROM is licensed for electrical and natural gas supply and distribution

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CONSULTANCY

Deloitte Romania – World Class Capabilities Combined With Local Expertise

For over 20 years, Deloitte Romania has been in the heart of business offering customers high quality services by using its knowledge, innovation and experience within a full range of services. Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients ranging from SMEs to multinational companies. With more than 400 people in Bucharest, Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca, we combine the local and international experience which allows us to deliver complex business solutions tailored to our clients’ needs. Whether your business or financial requirements are big or small, Deloitte provides you with intelligent, practical and innovative solutions to tackle the business challenges.

ent’s industry, marketplace, and unique situation. Thanks to our industry specialization approach, the professionals assigned to your affairs are specialists in your industry, and they understand the current trends and technologies as well as the competitive challenges you face.

Reputation, approach, efficiency, knowledge and experience are all factors which will influence your choice.

We believe it is all about people who make a difference.

Therefore, we have structured our multidisciplinary team with the utmost care to mirror your organization and to offer you an approach that will meet all your business needs.

Whatever your area of activity, we deliver the experience and knowledge needed to create tailored, added-value solutions adapted to your organization.

At Deloitte, we don’t believe that one size fits all. That is why we provide rewarding solutions designed for each cli-

www.deloitte.com

With a particular focus on the following industry sectors: Consumer Business, Energy & Resources, Financial Services, Life Sciences and Health Care, Public Sector, Real Estate, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, our people have extensive experience on the local market, combined with international expertise, which enables us to deliver complex business solutions tailored to your needs.

Transylvania Today Premium edition | 27

powered by

www.cesarom.ro

CONSTRUCTION

Cluj-Napoca, the Pillar for Recalibrating the Workforce in the Construction Sector The BUILD UP Skills QualiShell project, the only European-funded project that aims at creating a mechanism meant to actively involve local stakeholders in increasing the quality of energy performance of building processes in Romania, is to sign a local agreement for implementing training programs addressed to the workers committed to building envelopment in Cluj county.

“The BUILD UP Skills QualiShell project is interesting from at least two respects: first, that it is focused on a sector which we consider to be very important in the strategic development of Cluj-Napoca, namely the thermal rehabilitation of buildings and the second is the proposal coming from the Romanian team of specialists to create and support regional partnerships for the qualification of construction workers, comprising representatives of vocational educational training, the construction industry and the local administration. All parties involved must cooperate in order to improve the quality of activities in the field of energy performance of buildings, with immediate benefits for the residents of Cluj-Napoca”, said Mr. Gheorghe Şurubaru, Deputy Mayor of Cluj-Napoca.

The BUILD UP Skills QualiShell project runs between October 2013 - July 2015 under Section II of the BUILD UP Skills action, part of the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme funded by the European Commission through the European Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises - EASME, as a natural continuation of BUILD UP Skills Romania project (ROBUST, 2011-2013). Partners from various fields of activity, such as: The National Institute for Research and Development in Construction, Urban Planning and Sustainable Territorial Development “URBAN-INCERC” (project coordinator), The QETICS Association, The Ownership Association of Producers for Thermo-Insulating Carpentry (PPTT), The Ownership Association of Romanian Contractors (PSC), Business Development Group (BDG), The National Authority for Qualifications (ANC), The National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development (CNDIPT) and The Sector Skills Committee in Constructions (CSCon) are involved in the project, turning it into a priority for the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration (MDRAP), which is also one of the partners.

Local business environment is commited to develop skilled labour force in construction

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CONSTRUCTION

B U I L D

U P

S K I L L S ENERGY TRAINING FOR BUILDERS

The main objective of the project is to develop at a national level and create the conditions for implementation on large scale and long lasting, of a national qualification scheme with two components: one for installers of opaque thermal insulation systems for buildings and the other for the installers of thermal insulation systems.

By implementing the products of this project in the market, it will be easier to facilitate an increased quality of work for the energy performance of buildings as well as for the envelopment of the existing buildings in Romania.

“By implementing the products of this project in the market, it will be easier to facilitate an increased quality of work for the energy performance of buildings as well as for the envelopment of the existing buildings in Romania and supporting the sustainable energy policy objectives set for 2020 through decreasing the gaps between the existing skilled workforce in the construction sector and those necessary to be secured for the implementation of future projects of thermal rehabilitation’’, stated Mr. Horia Petran, project coordinator, on behalf of INCD URBAN INCERC. “The qualification requirements of the workforce in the construction sector (for increasing the energy performance of buildings) for the horizon 2020 was estimated at approximately 152,000 workers (according to an ambitious scenario). The estimated requirement for insulation workers is about 49,700 and for carpentry fitter-assemblers about 4,700 workers (2013). The importance of this project is stressed by the fact that the two work fields were highlighted as having the largest gap between the skilled labour force needed for executing the envelop-

ment of energy efficient buildings and the existing pool of skilled workers”, Mr. Petran further added.

“The openness we found at Cluj-Napoca City Hall towards creating and sustaining partnerships for qualification of local construction workers is truly remarkable.

The partnership promoted within the project is a voluntary agreement between representatives of: educational institution/training provider, equipment manufacturer/ construction systems, construction companies and local administration, a collaboration out of which each benefits over the medium and long term, through qualification and increased quality in construction and each of them contributes with their own resources in joint projects with the purpose of certifying qualifications for a specific number of workers in one or several occupations within a set time frame, depending on local needs’’, stated Mr. Ciprian Nanu, on behalf of BDG, partner in the BUILD UP Skills QualiShell project.

“We have proposals for partnerships discussed in Timişoara, Braşov, Galați, Iaşi, Craiova, Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca and as a result the first three partnerships are about to be signed in Timişoara, Cluj-Napoca and Galați. I’m sure that companies such as Henkel (Ceresit brand) or Weber in Turda as well as local training suppliers such as ‘Anghel Saligny’ Technical College will find the project interesting from the perspective of the new requirements on the market regarding qualified workers involved in building envelopment”, continued Mr. Nanu.

The BUILD UP Skills QualiShell consortium provides support for developing partnerships for the qualification of the workforce in the construction sector by facilitating meetings between relevant participants and by providing materials developed within the project (training manuals, guidelines etc.) which can be consulted free of charge on the project’s website.

Contact: buildupskills@bdgind.ro

www.iee-robust.ro/qualishell/

Transylvania Today Premium edition | 33

Inteligence levels

The Amera Brand is emerging on the Cluj market. The brand is promoting a new vision about the estate concept, in terms of both management and development.

The Amera Tower project embodies the vision by sheer size and complexity. On the extremely dynamic market of business centers, it aims to provide the alternative given its location, benefits and services.

Amera Tower has been designed as a business oasis away from the crowded urban habitat, nontheless close to the downtown, easy to reach with public transportation and by car, thoroughly conceived to sustain the business flow.

It has a generous parking place, vast offices, a classy restaurant and an elegant coffee-shop.

Amera Tower is the first LEED GOLD green building in Cluj-Napoca with international certificate.

Inteligence levels

BUSINESS

When You Need Solutions to Creativity and technology go together well when we talk about impact printing solutions. Impress, a company founded in 1995, has been a pioneer of investments ever since, but it has also taken the next step: besides technology, high quality services make all the difference, saving our business partners’ time and money.

A true one-stop-shop for creative communication solutions, Impress is the kind of company that, when others were talking of recession, it invested in development both in technology and in value-added services for its customers. And its investments have really paid off! “To offer solutions means to be able to provide the whole range of DTP, printing and finishing services with the help of an experienced team and state-of-the-art technology” says the company’s commercial manager Mihaela Miron, the one who, in 1995, together with her husband, Toni Miron, founded a company to which the years 2013 and 2014 represent two years of growing business.

“Technology is evolving very quickly, and possibilities in the field of printing are increasing at a rapid pace. We want more than just to adapt ourselves to the new realities; we want to anticipate what is to come. A part of our mission is to make our clients’ wishes come true, helping them save time and stay on budget. This part of counselling over a cup of coffee” is essential for each job to be successful and to help companies stand out from their competitors: whether we are talking about offset or digital printing, we focus on strongly customized solutions, in tune with the brand and delivered on time, with the best quality”, says Mihaela Miron.

Impress is the company that, in 1995, imported pre-press machineries from 3M, through the first external leasing made in Cluj. After 15 years from the beginning of the investments in the top printing technology, 2014 is the year in which, with the aid of European funds, Impress started a massive modernization program, procuring new finishing machines, which means new speed records without compromising quality.

Digital printing has developed rapidly in the past few years, as companies are looking for more and more production speed with small print runs. Impress has recently exceeded 4 million sheets printed by digital technologies. Even if volumes are not large, the digital printing growth rate goes far beyond what is going on in the area of the traditional printing, the offset.

Mihaela Miron, manager of the Impress commercial department In figures, Impress today means a production facility of 1,100 square meters in Tetarom Industrial Park I, 30 employees - a team almost unchanged since its establishment - and thousands of works which have made a difference in the business of Impress customers. All these are part of an integrated production management system, with new servers and workstations, in which each step is automated, so that people have time to pay attention to details and to come up with creative solutions for new work. There’s one thing however that defines the Impress team better than the figures and even better than the cutting-edge technology: the good business relationships maintained over the years with all those who have visited us. A cup of good coffee and advice on the best technologies that can ensure the success of your business are waiting for you anytime.

www.impress.ro Transylvania Today Premium edition | 35

BUSINESS ART

Photography Art as Business Gift When we think about photography, the first thing that crosses our minds is the family photos gathering all the good memories in an album, on a desk or on top of a fireplace. Yet, nowadays, photography is so much more.

An artist from Cluj is successfully promoting this art form as a successful business idea. Artist-photographer Oana Pop hits the business market in Cluj and Transylvania with a brand new concept of services and products custom made for the business environment.

Corporate gifts For those companies seeking to impress their business partners or prospective customers by offering them a special gift, photographs signed by Oana Pop represent the perfect option. Fine art photography or professional photography can be a refined, elegant and highly appreciated gift.

“Artistic gifts are being used extensively in the businesses environment in Bucharest and the Cluj and Transylvania market is becoming more and more open to this idea. Of late, many prefer to buy photographs instead of paintings. And the best option for corporate gifts is the framed photograph”, says the artist Oana Pop herself.

Shooting Interiors Increasingly more often in recent years, professional photography is found in public or private spaces. A modern solution, with a unique yet stylish touch, fine art

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photographs printed on canvas or paper have gained a well-deserved place and functionality in arrangements of various kinds. From medical to business offices, hotels, restaurants or pubs to private locations, analogue or digital fine art photography is increasingly present.

Oana Pop’s portfolio consisting of the spaces she has decorated with her photographic creations can be found on the artist’s website at www.oanapop.ro.

The Business Portfolio With the purpose of visually documenting the professional performance of a businessman or a company, a business portfolio is the item you might need to boost your business. A good portfolio should include a range of 7-10 images that represent your professional environment accurately: the office, the conference room, the production halls, the work space etc. Thus, a personalized portfolio consisting of photos taken during various business activities will build up a professional image of a business in the virtual environment as well. For any company, office or firm, a photographic portfolio of business activities works just as an additional business card, designed to visually complement and document their goals and performance.

In addition to the above mentioned activities, Oana Pop also does personal portfolios. Her artistic services extend to corporate photo workshops, event photography, both private and professional which need to be documented by a considerable amount of high class photographs.

OPINION

Cluj-Napoca – First to Promote Transparency in the Real Estate Market Buying a home is a goal for every family. Some end up owning more than one house and others may own none.

The market economy has its laws which we must live by.

Unfortunately, it does not provide the tools necessary to keep pace. One of these “tools” is information, essential in any major decision.

As for the Romanian real estate market, the general public is missing a place where those who want to purchase a home may go and find the answer to a simple question: At what price have similar properties traded up to until now?

Unfortunately, information for the public is scarce to non-existent. In fact, information is found in each sale-purchase agreement. And sale-purchase agreements are found in the possession of sellers and buyers, public notaries, and occasionally, financial institutions.

Last but not least, this information is also held by the local authorities, where each of us declares possession of our new homes for tax purposes. This is the key.

So… this is how it all began. The idea for the first real estate transactions’ guide, now in its second edition, came to life as a result of the willingness of the Cluj-Napoca City Hall to follow the suggestion of a group of volunteers. We wanted to show how information can be exploited to yield value added for the general public.

Interestingly enough, City Hall collected information from the sale-purchase agreements of real estate properties prior to this initiative, to set the tax base, without collecting information on the transaction price. And such analysis cannot be performed without information about prices, which were collected beginning in May 2013. Since then, City Hall records this information and we are committed to publishing this guide in the first months of each year, providing useful data to citizens.

We are convinced that it will serve various users, such as potential investors, licensed appraisers, realtors and even public notaries.

Adrian Vascu, Senior Partner Veridio Chairman of ANEVAR 2014-2015 I coordinate this project both as licensed appraiser and as a citizen of Cluj-Napoca. Together with the team (ANEVAR members) and with the support of KPMG Romania, we believe we provide a product that is both interesting and useful.

We want this project to continue in Cluj-Napoca in the years to come and to serve as an example to other communities in Romania to do the same for their citizens.

Special thanks go to Cluj-Napoca City Hall, which understands once again that it can set an example for all of Romania.

Like any new product its value will build over time.

Already in its second edition, besides annual figures, such as average prices, transaction volumes and values, we now can see certain trends, since the guide is “organized” by neighbourhood and by property type (apartments, houses, land and other types of properties).

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EDUCATION

The Multicultural and Multilingual Tradition in Education UN Day at Transylvania College The city offers multiple possibilities of receiving an education in English starting from pre-school up to doctoral studies. You can also receive a complete education in French, German, Hungarian and, of course, Romanian.

Whole English education, both for native English speakers and other foreigners, is part of the old Cluj traditions, like an education in other four languages mentioned above.

Studies in Romanian, Hungarian and German were provided in Transylvania from the Renaissance age. French was introduced into Transylvanian schools from the 18th century, and English from the 19th century. Now, studies in English are widely spread across Transylvania and English is the most popular foreign language in the region.

Ever since the communist period, the English language has been largely loved and studied by the people from Transylvania. Currently, there are all levels of schooling options in Shakespeare’s language. Most nursery schools from Cluj-Napoca offer pre-school education in English, but some of them offer education in German, French or Hungarian as well. While in the majority of nursery schools under Local Council supervision, the main lessons are in Romanian and English is studied as a foreign language, there are also nursery schools providing whole English education. This is most often the case of nurseries from the private sector. In Cluj-Napoca, there are func-

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tioning schools in all five of the languages mentioned above, which are also official languages in Cluj-Napoca, The European Capital of Youth this year.

Moreover, alumni of Cluj universities have come to hold high rank positions in administration. The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, graduated from the Babeș-Bolyai University. The former European Commissionaire for Agriculture, Dacian Cioloș, graduated from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, whereas the former prime minister of Romania, Emil Boc, is both an alumnus and a professor of the Babeş-Bolyai University.

The Modern Language study line from the Faculty of Letters is ranked among the best 200 faculties in the world and the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics is ranked among the 500 in the world. The Babeș–Bolyai University provides studies in Romanian, Hungarian, German, English and French. The Medicine and Pharmacy University and the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine provides studies in Romanian, English and French. The Technical University provides education in Romanian, English and German and the Sapientia University provides studies in Hungarian. Other universities, like the Music Academy, University of Arts and Design, ”Dimitrie Cantemir” University, ”Bogdan Vodă” University and ”Avram Iancu” University are providing education only in Romanian.

EDUCATION

Julian Hingley, Director of Royal School

Royal School as a Symbolic Fountain of Change “Whatever the question, education is the answer” Opening a new school in the academic city of Cluj may appear to some people as a case of bringing coal to the mine. However, the May launch of the Royal School in Transylvania isn’t just simply a matter of opening another school. This time its different. Royal School unveils a fresh concept of schooling at a time of growing national debate about education quality and results in Romania. This new British model school will make a critical contribution to education of children in Romania and help to prepare the next generation for the tasks of living and learning that await us in the near future.

Royal School in Transylvania opens in September 2015. Driven by a foundation, it is a fourth way, truevalue fountain school with highly differentiated and nuanced approaches to teaching and learning and a committed strategy for educational improvement with in-built quality assurance schemes. The school will be staffed and managed in new ways by a wide range of personnel and a rich variety of teachers to grow a school of 160 children aged 4-12 in phase one. The school is

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permeable to the wider world of schools, charities, businesses and working adults and the diverse ethnic mix of peoples in Transylvania.

Royal School offers the National Curriculum of England to children on 180 days annually. All teaching is delivered through English language and we deliver indigenous Romanian, Hungarian and German. All children learn a third language from age seven.

EDUCATION

Our school is a non-profit organisation based on true-values in choice, competition, innovation, transparency, inclusion and equity. We have a board of 39 expert governors dedicated to sustaining an international and Eurocentric education for excellence. This is a pioneering model of school governance in Romania. The brand is permanently headquartered in Cluj-Napoca.

The Royal School ambition for every child is an education to prepare them for life challenges through providing excellent teaching and the extra help everyone needs.

Our school works in partnerships because no school can do it alone and we will continuously improve with strong accountability and rapid intervention when it is needed.

We aspire to prepare children for leadership as real citizens with meritocratic philosophy, offering in addition to tech-savvy skills, civic skills and fluency in at least three languages. We have a 26 Point Covenant pledged to a children’s action plan, good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation and environmental conservation. We offer a totality of education and a complete learning community for teachers and children alike, including student contracts and portfolios of achievement, performing arts pillar for creative education, Saturday morning sports and options.

Royal School curriculum is interdisciplinary, project-based and research-driven and connected to local, national and global communities. We will collaborate in projects with other schools around the world and incorporate higher-order thinking skills, multiple intelligences, technology and multimedia, multiple-literacy and authentic assessments. Service-community learning is essential. Students are self-directed and work both independently and interdependently. Curriculum instruction is designed to challenge all students and provide for differentiation. We sustain two pillars for a future-proof education, teaching children how to lead and helping them learn how to solve interesting problems. Ergo, the curriculum embraces a twin-track policy to provide excellent schooling that teaches how to live, and an education that teaches how to make a living.

Our fountain school will serve the community, attracting people to it, providing aesthetic quality and irrigating the knowledge flow of the hinterland. Everybody enjoys the spectacle of a fountain so the idea of creating a fountain school means we engineer a fountain curriculum to attract all people, a fountain school with a kinetic shower of assets and not a single and inflexible entity. A school where all are refreshed and no-one is left in the dry zone. We shall deliver personalised learning in reality and teachers learning with children rather than being the indisputable source of all knowledge.

To signpost a true-value school direction we establish balance between a child-led, exciting, innovatory project alongside the measurable value-lasting impacts on learning and teaching. Our fountain curriculum aims for children taking their learning to places with real life-en-

by appoitment of His Majesty King Mihai I of Romania hancing value. We will keep objectives in mind but allow children to lead their journeys into new and exciting territories. Our outcomes will be diverse and irrigate real world learning through building learning power for all students and their teachers. These multiple-powers will harvest a fresh whole-school culture change. Our school will be unique by presenting a clear and fresh culture, a fourth way path beyond, church, state or privately owned schools, giving choice, innovation and transparency. The fountain is transparently clear. The fountain is inclusive to all.

Our foundation understands globalising society where jobs competition comes from across the continents.

We know the standard educational model must change away from uniformity which works against student engagement. Society faces an inevitable re-modelling of the whole educational establishment. In the next years a new student-centered model of education will predominate in those leading economies wanting to stay ahead of the competition. In wanting to become a visible regional landmark our fountain school must irrigate the community and teach children how to live and how to learn to make a living. The fourth way can achieve coherence through developing sustainable and distributed leadership with inspiring and inclusive purposes of creativity, sustainability and democracy.

Good schools are a rare commodity like good quality water from a fountain. Royal School seeks excellence, not a bottled product but a fountain entity, a foundation-fountain school. It will be a community asset; a product of better quality and of true public value. Our true and transparent fourth way values will be refreshing, producing a human values driven teaching and learning environment, where people come first and profit comes second; an institution where we say what we mean, and mean what we say; where policy counts and ethics provide our daily nourishment. Where we stand sure and stay the course and do vnot trim before unfavourable winds.

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Tradition and excellence in multiculturalism Linguistic and cultural diversity are defining elements of UBB, representing a singularity not only in the Romanian academic environment, but also in the European context. The multiculturalism project promoted by Babeș-Bolyai University is considered to be a continental model.

Historical guidelines: 1581- Stefan Báthory issued in Vilna the founding diploma of the Major Jesuit College from Cluj 1872 - by Law No. XIX adopted by the Hungarian Parliament and sanctioned by Emperor Franz Iosif the University of Cluj is established with Hungarian as teaching language 1919 - the Hungarian University of Cluj becomes a Romanian University 1927- the University of Cluj adopted the name of King Ferdinand I 1940 - following the Vienna dictate the University of Cluj takes refuge in Timisoara (Faculty of Science) and Sibiu (Faculty of Letters, Law and Medicine) 1945 - ”King Ferdinand I” University returns to Cluj 1948 - ”King Ferdinand I University” becomes ”Victor Babeș University” 1959 - the Romanian University of Cluj merges with the Hungarian University. The new institution will be called ”Babeș-Bolyai University”.

At Babeș-Bolyai University, students can study in Romanian, Hungarian, German, English, French and they can attend study programmes in the language they choose. At undergraduate level there are: 153 specialisations in Romanian, 75 specialisations in Hungarian,10 specialisations in German, 12 specialisations in English and 3 specialisations in French.

At master’s level there are: 175 specialisations in Romanian, 40 specialisations in Hungarian, 6 specialisations in German, 38 specialisations in English and 6 specialisations in French.

17 cultural centres promote various cultures, languages and ways of life, constantly enriching the international perspective of our students: “Bernhard Stillfried” Austrian Library, Northern Studies Library, British Council, “Casa do Brasil” Cultural Centre, Korean Cultural Centre, German Cultural Centre, Italian Cultural Centre, Russian Cultural Centre, Polish Centre for Language and Culture, Canadian Studies Centre, Belgian and French Language and Literary Studies Centre, Confucius Institute, Romanian French Institute of Cluj-Napoca, “Dr. Moshe Carmilly” Institute for Hebrew Studies and Jewish History, Institute of Turkish and Asian-Central Studies, African Studies Centre CESTAF, Camões Centre for Portuguese Language.

Babeş-Bolyai University is involved in international multicultural programmes in collaboration with 138 universities in Europe, 36 universities in North America and South America, universities in Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Through its mobility programmes, over 400 UBB students have had the opportunity to get in touch with other cultures, every year, while 291 foreign students get in contact annualy with the Romanian culture through our University.

CONTACT 1 Mihail Kogălniceanu street, Cluj-Napoca Tel: 0264-405.300, Fax: 0264-591.906 Website: http://ubbcluj.ro Facebook: Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai

EDUCATION

Annual Scientific Conference Ermas 2015 The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from the University of Babeş-Bolyai University will organize the second edition of The Annual Scientific Conference of Romanian Economists from Abroad Academia (ERMAS 2015 on the 29th–31st of July 2015.

Participants in this scientific event are Romanian economists affiliated with prestigious universities or research institutions abroad and their colleagues working in Romania. The internationally recognized Romanian researchers will present their research findings within the scientific sessions of this event.

keynote speakers were: Mugur Isarescu, Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Nicolae Bogdan Gârleanu from Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley, Mihai Manea from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Virgil Midrigan from New York University and Cristian Pop - Eleches from Columbia University.

The recognition of the first edition’s impact of the ERMAS event came through the inclusion in Top 100 People and Ideas that move Romania Awards, edition 2015, offered

by Foreign Policy Romania, for circulation of ideas projects.

Details of the ERMAS 2015 scientific event can be found on the event website: http://econ.ubbcluj. ro/ermas2015/.

Key-note speakers of the event are: Florin Bîlbîie from the Paris School of Economics and Universite Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, Lawrence Christiano from Northwestern University, Lucian Croitoru from The National Bank of Romania, Adam Szeidl from the Central European University. Also, at the conference are invited representatives of economic and academic Romanian institutions.

The first edition of the conference was held from August 18 to 22, 2014, at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from the University Babes-Bolyai, enjoying great success. The guests were invited to submit research results obtained by over 40 Romanian researchers with international recognition. The

Mugur Isarescu, the Governer of National Bank of Romania Transylvania Today Premium edition | 43

EDUCATION

MINISTERUL EDUCA IEI NA IONALE

Technical Education for the Future The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, the only technical university in Transylvania, is one of the top twelve Romanian universities, established as “universities of advanced research and education”.

The university has nine faculties in Cluj-Napoca, three in the North University Centre of Baia Mare and four academic extensions in important cities of Transylvania; more than 1,000 academic staff and around 20,000 students at the Bachelor, Master and PhD level. For the main location, in Cluj-Napoca, the courses are in the technical field, ranging from Electrical, Telecommunications, Electronics, Computers and Control Engineering to Mechanical, Manufacturing and Materials Engineering or to Architecture and Civil Engineering. In the North Centre of Baia Mare, together with Engineering topics, courses in Arts, Humanities and Science are offered.

The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca offers, in accordance with the Bologna Declaration, 4 year programmes for Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering, 3 year programmes for Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Humanities or Sciences, as well as 2 year programmes for Master’s Degrees and 3 year PhD Programmes. The Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture is awarded through a 6 year programme.

Courses are offered in Romanian for all subjects and some are offered also in English, German or French.

The programmes offered in English are: • Automation and Applied Informatics (Bachelor); • Computer Science (Bachelor);

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• • • • • • • • • •

Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Buildings (Bachelor); Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering / Applied Electronics (Bachelor); Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering / Telecommunications Technologies and Systems (Bachelor); Robotics (Bachelor); Manufacturing Engineering (Bachelor), Economic Engineering (Bachelor); Robotics (Master); Virtual Engineering and Competitive Manufacturing (Master).

The Manufacturing Engineering (Bachelor) and Innovative Production Processes and Technological Management (master)

Programmes are also offered in German, in cooperation with Stuttgart University, while the Master programme Processing of Signals and Images is offered in French, in cooperation with Bordeaux 1 University and Nice Sophia Antipolis University.

The research fields of interest cover Engineering and Technical topics, together with inter / multidisciplinary ones. In the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, high quality applied research, performed jointly with industry or serving the needs of the community, is a major task and is carried out by academic / research staff, PhD students and undergraduates / graduates, in the modern laboratories of the more than 70 research structures registered in the university. www.utcn.ro

EDUCATION

Cluj-Napoca is one of the most important research centre in Europe

Smart Factories Operated by Robots with ‘Eyes’ Developed in the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca PAN-Robots – Plug And Navigate Robots for smart factories – is an EU funded FP7 research project, which began on November 1, 2012 and will end October 31, 2015. The overall objective is to develop, demonstrate and validate a generic automation system in the logistics industry based on advanced robots called AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles).

The vision is to achieve maximum flexibility, energy efficiency, reduced costs and worker safety. This project involves several important industry and academic partners: SICK AG (Germany) – project coordinator, Electric80 (Italy) – manufacturer of AGVs, Casbega (Spain) – Coca-Cola distributor, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia– Department of Sciences (Italy), Technical University of Cluj-Napoca – Computer Science Department (Romania), VTT Research Centre (Finland).

The most innovative technology in the project, developed by Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, is a stereo camera with “fish-eye” lenses, mounted on top of the AGV providing a 3D representation of the AGV’s surrounding. The stereo camera’s 360-degree field of view with its “3D perception” and 2D safety laser scanners ensure the robot has no blind spots and guarantee safety for the people that still work in the factory or warehouse.

22 years of fruitful cooperation between the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and Stuttgart University Starting in 1993, a German Bachelor line of study in the field of Manufacturing Engineering functions in the TUCN, constructed jointly and on the model of Stuttgart University, with the support of DAAD and German industrial companies. A part of the lectures are held in Cluj-Napoca by academic staff from Stuttgart. Each year, the best students have the opportunity of a 3 month internship at German partner companies, then to study in Stuttgart for an entire semester. This gives them the chance to know the working ways of of engineers and a students’ life in Germany. The students receive, consequently, highly professional skills and cultural assets, of major importance to their future careers. Partner companies, such as Gühring, Bosch, Bielomatik-Leuze, Mahle, Daimler, Star Transmission, MAN, Siemens, Eckerle, Continental, e.g., also have the opportunity for early contact with students, that can attract various methods of cooperation with these companies. Starting in 2014, the Bachelor line of study was completed with a Master German programme, Innovative Production Processes and Technological Management, organised together with Stuttgart University.

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University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine R Advanced Research and Education – competition 2011 H Assurance in Higher Education  ISO 9001:2008 (TÜV Austria)  International Student Mobility Programmes

www.usamvcluj.ro Romania, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăștur St. Fax. +4(0)264-593.792, Tel. +4(0)264-596.384

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine www.fmv.usamvcluj.ro

secretariat.medicinaveterinara@usamvcluj.ro Member of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) Graduates with high employability in all Europe Veterinary Medicine undergraduates studies Six years full-time education Title awarded: veterinary surgeon Diploma acknowledged in all Europe PhD in Veterinary Medicine – four years Postdoctoral study programmes – two years Internship – various veterinary specialities - one year Lifelong specialization and training

EDUCATION

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Excellence Based on Internationalization USAMV management welcoming the French Ambassador François Saint-Paul The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV) in Cluj-Napoca was established in 1962 and is part of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) Cluj-Napoca. Since its founding, the faculty has taken a leading role in training veterinarians with solid professional skills, a research role and role of providing quality professional services needed to ensure human and animal health and welfare, environmental protection and biodiversity preservation.

The faculty has both national and international prestige in terms of quality of education and scientific research.

Internationalization has contributed significantly to increasing the performance and maintains its key role in the development strategy of the faculty.

USAMV is accredited by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS) and this agency is a full member of ENQA. FMV is member of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and approved by this association.

In 2011, the national classification of Universities and field of study hierarchy was done. USAMV ranks 5th among the 12 Category I Universities (first value group) - “University for Advanced Research and Education” and FMV was included in category A (the first value group).

In 2012, USAMV was assessed and institutionally accredited by the European University Association (EUA) and is certified (2013) by TUV AUSTRIA CERT GMBH for activities of management in higher education, research and support activities, according to EN ISO 9001: 2008.

There are several categories of international initiatives which have inspired FMV. Thus, European mobility and research programs, European institutional accreditation procedures, standard quality assessment and international university rankings, international professional and academic associations/societies, consortia and policy making bodies, European Board of Veterinary Specialization (EBVS), and many other opportunities were used by the faculty to especially improve the quality of human resources and general academic ambience. In addition to the Romanian line of study two new lines of veterinary medicine studies were established - English (since 2008) and French (since 2012). Currently, almost 17% of full time students are foreign students.

Faculty staff members annually publish over 100 scientific articles (more than one paper per person) in relevant journals with an average impact factor (Thomson Reuters) higher than 1.7.

www.usamvcluj.ro www.fmv.usamvcluj.ro Transylvania Today Premium edition | 47

RESEARCH

IMOGEN – The Research Centre for Medical Development The first research centre in Romania in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology is now functioning in Cluj-Napoca.

The centre is the result of an investment of 11 million Euros from European funds. Equipped with the latest technology, this centre creates the perfect environment for the doctors and nurses involved to efficiently bring their valuable contribution to the development of prenatal diagnosis, to investigate the causes of genetic disease and to find effective ways of prevention, as well as directly make fundamental research on the DNA of children from within the womb.

patients themselves, and that is because the research is aimed directly at human subjects who will be benefiting from high performance investigations. However, the research unit will not serve the population directly”, Prof.

Florin Stamatian, project Director for IMOGEN declares.

What causes autism or cleft lip condition in babies? How do we prevent certain genetic diseases and what are the conditions for hereditary transmission? These are just some of the questions which the doctors from Cluj-Napoca hope to find the answers to, through research in the field of foetal medicine. This research will be hosted in the Centre for Advanced Studies, IMOGEN, which is attached to The Cluj County Emergency Hospital. Professor Florin Stamatian tells us what kind of innovation such a centre is bound to bring to the medical community in Cluj-Napoca as well as for the entire country.

“Research is necessary in medicine just as it is necessary in electronics or when researching software upgrades.

There is medical research focusing directly on prevention. Combined, these will lead to improved diagnoses and possibly the discovery of an etiology of certain diseases or the discovery of new therapeutic methods. Still, everything falls under the field of research. Research can go to the most fundamental level where we are able to study foetal DNA“, IMOGEN Project Director says.

“This project is a novelty in itself because of its unique structure. It is designed not as a medical centre, but as a centre for medical research. Ultimately, the direct beneficiaries of the medical research conducted here are the

The professor further adds that, although in the past 25 years, the field of medical research in Romania has become somewhat stalled because of poor financing within the health system, now is the moment to make up for lost time.

This new centre is equipped with cutting-edge medical devices that will contribute to the advancement of prenatal medicine, acording to the promoters of the project.

The institution serves four research areas - medical imaging, obstetrics and gynaecology, oral and maxillo-facial surgery as well as neurology.

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HEALTH

The Prolident Medical Team, a Landmark in Quality Dental Care

Prolident team is using the best equimpent for stomatology. Dr. Paul Prodan – 4th to the right Every year, Romania attracts an increasing number of people practicing what is understood as medical tourism. One of the best specialist in Cluj, Dr. Paul Prodan, explains why so many foreigners prefer to be treated in Romania, specifically in Cluj, at Prolident.

Reporter: In the context of the medical services market and especially the dental services market in Cluj which is oversaturated, how exactly does Prolident make a difference?

Dr. Paul Prodan: Our clinic has a well varied staff ranging from resident physicians, specialists and general practitioners specializing in different areas of expertise, which makes it possible to solve complex dental issues that generally require a multidisciplinary approach. For instance, my professional training ranges from the Faculty of General Medicine where I graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) specializing in eco-diagnosis, to a Masters Degree in Oral Rehabilitation and a PhD in Periodontics, specializing in implantology, at the Faculty of Dental Medicine. These complementary specializations qualify me to correctly assess the dental pathology of patients with serious cardiovascular, hematologic, neurologic, metabolic or osteoarticular conditions.

For complex cases requiring surgery, patients will be examined before the operation using laboratory and interdisciplinary checkups to assure us that the dental affliction has a better chance of being cured. Seldom do we find such general diseases unknown to the patient, within which oral pathology is only a symptom of the discovered disease. Numerous general conditions such as hepatitis, diabetes, cancers with chemotherapy treatment, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, and endocrine diseases etc., are only some of those which

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can adversely affect the progress of dental treatments. This is the reason why we approach patients by placing a greater emphasis on their general health for a more accurate dental diagnosis. The clinic’s equipment allows continuing stages of treatment with the result of reducing the length of the treatments. Special attention is given to anxious patients by using inhalation sedation in addition to a local anaesthesia.

Reporter: But what about the technical equipment?

Dr. Paul Prodan: The level of technical equipment in the private sector varies according to the ambitions, the involvement and the desire for improvement of each physician. Prolident has new, last generation equipment: American A-DEC A-400, A-300 units, LED microscopes for endodontics and surgery, dental laser, digital radiology, Acteon Satelec Sopro Care intraoral camera programmed for the early detection of cavities in fluorescent light, Acteon Satelec Piezotome-Led II piezoelectric surgery device, Masterflux Plus Automatic inhalation sedation device for anxious patients, electrocardiograph, oximeters for monitoring the patients’ vital parameters during surgery.

Reporter: Why do patients from abroad choose to seek treatment in Cluj and particularly in your clinic?

Dr. Paul Prodan: The main reason foreign tourists request dental care here would be the lower price range for the same type of work involved. Expanding a bit on the topic, what I am referring to is the degree of professionalism, the same last generation equipment and materials that are currently used in Western Europe. For all of these, the costs can be about 50% lower.

www.drprodan.ro

HEALTH

Medestet Centre of Excellence The Aesthetic Private Clinic Where Beauty Becomes Art www.medestet.ro Cluj-Napoca, the historical, cultural and scientific “Heart of Transylvania”, is also recognized in Romania and Europe as a high-class academic centre, being included at the top of the most successful European Medical Universities.

This is the natural result of the high class activity performed by the medical staff.

The “Iuliu Haţieganu” Medical University has over 6,000 national and international students, 2,400 resident physicians, as well as over 1,100 teachers and researchers.

A special note should be made about aesthetic surgery. Soon after the revolution, in 1993, “Medestet” opened the Romanian first private clinic specialised in aesthetic surgery, which became “Medestet Centre of Excellence” in 2012.

Prof. Toma T. Mugea, MD, PhD. is one of the famous Romanian aesthetic plastic surgeons with more than 140 published papers and 7 books, being a member of 15 international and national scientific associations. He is founding member (1994) and Honorary President of The Romanian Aesthetic Surgery Society and EASAPS (European Association of Societies of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) President Elect.

In January 2015, along with the famous American aesthetic surgeon, Melvin Shiffman, he published in Springer-Verlag an impressive book, “Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast”, with more than 1,000 pages and 900 colour pictures. These are the results of his tremendous experience in breast aesthetic surgery for more than 20 years and represent a milestone in this field, including new concepts and surgical techniques.

Being well known for his experience and good results in aesthetic surgery in the last 20 years, more than 15,000 patients have been consulted

by Prof. Toma T. Mugea.

At Medestet Centre of Excellence a large field of surgical procedures are performed, the most common being: breast augmentation, breast reduction, liposuction, fat transplant, facial rejuvenation with adipocytes derived stem cells, face lift, abdominoplasty, gynecomastia, prominent ears correction and many others. © T.M. Patients are welcomed with careful attention, in the best conditions (for hosting, treatment and monitoring). The patient is given plenty of information and the procedure is discussed at length, patiently.

“At Medestet we do not gain patients making unrealistic promises about the outcomes of the interventions”, Prof.

Toma T. Mugea says.

Prices include all medical expenses from preoperative tests, to hospitalization, anaesthesia, surgery and immediate postoperative care. When discharged, in addition to a detailed medical letter, all the patients receive the necessary medication for their care during the next 7 days.

The clinic’s success is the direct result of the daily contribution made by the highly specialized staff, a remarkable team that has remained unchanged for over 5 years. The clinic’s board of directors boasts that, in key areas, they have staff with more than 15 years of experience in their fields.

“Beauty Through Science” is the Medestet Centre of Excellence logo.

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Visiting the Treasure City Geographicaly, historically and culturally at the confluence of great Western and Eastern civilisations, present day Cluj is the beneficiary of a rich cultural heritage. Sourrounded on three sides by hills and knolls, with heights ranging from 500 to 800 metres; Cluj-Napoca stretches across the valleys of Someșul Mic and Nadăș rivers.

The forest and the botanical reserves close to the city shelter rich vegetation, with rare species and diverse fauna. Cluj-Napoca hides under the land which was built on archeological ruins dating back an impressive 60,000 years. The city’s story, mysterious and tumultuous, is told by the artefacts brought to light by the archaeologists.

Napoca was one of the most important cities from Roman Dacia mentioned two millennia ago by the geographer Ptolemaeus. The settlement was raised to the rank of municipality in Emperor Hadrian’s time, being named Municipium Aelium Hadrianum Napocenses, and then to the rank of colonia Aurelia Napoca, around 180 AD, under Marcus Aurelius. Although it quickly degenerated following the withdraw of the romans the migratory peoples

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slowly revived this medieval city from the ashes of ancient Roman ruins. This flourishing civilization was accompanied by an exceptional culmination of economic and cultural values that justified its’ new given name – “Treasure City”.

The medieval town developed inside the fortification of high walls, towers and strongholds, like other Saxon citadels in Transylvania.

A visit to Cluj-Napoca, even for a few hours, offers the visitor a unique experience. From the diverse variety of visitor tours; The Roman Road, Gothic Cluj, Baroque Cluj or Renaissance Cluj, the extensive assortment of churches built in the 19th and 20th centuries with strong western influences – adapted to the Transylvanian area, squares and pedestrian areas – overseen by palaces with portals and ornamented squares, commercial spaces below the city streets, the Botanical Gardens, the city’s parks, student life, local and European events, local and international delicacies; tourists will discover a smart, dynamic city that promises adventure and an urge to return here, year after year.

Foto: Septimiu Daniel Balica

TOURISM

TOURISM

Turda Salt Mine, The Coolest ­Underground Sight in the World Salina Turda or Turda Salt Mine is in the first position in top 10 coolest underground sights made by the American magazine Business Insider.

The Balneology Association of Romania has made several studies on the effects the air from the salt mines plays in the treatment of respiratory diseases. They concluded that Salina Turda is the best in Europe in this matter. Also, Turda Salt Mine has been declared by many tourism journals as the most beautiful on the continent after being rehabilitated with European funds. On an underground lake which is in the middle of an island of salt, there is a pier where small boats can be rented in order to navigate the salt water.

Also, the salt mine from Turda has an amphitheater used for concerts, theater and film performances was equipped with heated seats, but also a huge carousel, a panoramic lift, or bowling and miniature golf fields.

The Salt Mine from Turda is currently considered a museum of salt mining history. The mine dates back to the 17th century.

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TOURISM

Best Museums in Cluj Cluj-Napoca has 11 important museums, most of them in the city centre or very close.

Cluj – Transylvania Today magazine recommends three of them, not to be missed when visiting ClujNapoca: The Art Museum, The Pharmacy History Collection and The Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania and its open air department.

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The National History Museum of Transylvania The Art Museum of Cluj-Napoca The Pharmacy History Collection The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography The “Emil Racoviță” Speology Museum The ”Alexandru Borza” Botanical Garden and the Botanical Museum The Babeș-Bolyai University Museum of Mineralogy The Paleontology and Stratigraphy Museum The Vivarium The Zoological Museum The Babeș-Bolyai University Museum

The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography Established in 1922 by Professor Romulus Vuia, under the High Patronage of the King Carol II of Romania, The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography contains over 41,000 traditional farmer objects, dating back from the 17th century to the 20th. This museum has two departments: The Pavilion and The Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia (the open air department).

The Pavilion operates in the “Redoubt” Palace, a historical monument from the 16th century. The current exhibition, called “Traditional folk culture in Transylvania from the 17th century to the 20th century”, represents a well accomplished re-enactment of how Transylvanian farmers lived their lives two centuries ago. Simple tools, ingenuous installations used in domestic activities and highly decorated folk costumes are proof of the quality of life and also the social position of those who possessed these items. The open air department of the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography shows old traditional buildings, grouped according to their regional establishments, folk architecture monuments, folk installations, craftsman workshops, wells, gateways, big wooden crosses and indoor textiles.

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TOURISM

The Pharmacy History Collection This unique museum can be found in the oldest pharmacy building of Cluj-Napoca, named “La Sfântul Gheorghe”/At Saint George, also known as the Hintz pharmacy, dating back to 1573.

The museum opened in 1954 and started with a collection of Transylvanian pharmaceutical objects, owned by Professor Iuliu Orient (1869-1940). This collection containing 1,800 pieces was donated to the museum and it was enriched over time through other several valuable donations.

The room in which drugs were sold is decorated with a Baroque mural painting dating back to 1766. The original furniture is from the 17th century to the 19th century.

Old pharmaceutical recipients, pharmaceutical products, old books and important documents can be found here.

The substance room contains over 200 wooden pharmaceutical recipients from the 17th-19th centuries.

The pharmacists used this type of recipients to preserve powder from medicinal herbs and some mineral powder. There is also a wooden mobile pharmacy with many labeled medicine bottles contained in its drawers. The pharmacy’s basement looks like a medieval chemistry laboratory where only the pharmacist and his assistants have access. Tools that were used in the

past for preparing healing potions are displayed here, amongst glass retorts, copper distillers, drip devices (an installation for extracting tinctures), containers and bowls made out of bronze and copper, pharmaceutical containers and tin measurement tools, wooden mixers, antique glass, ceramic and wooden containers, bronze and cast iron jars.

The Art Museum The Art Museum of Cluj-Napoca has a collection of over 12,000 paintings, sculptures, graphic arts and decorative pieces and it is considered one of the most important museums in Romania.

Founded as an institution in 1951, the museum has been operating since 1956 in the Banffy Palace – a Baroque building which was built based on the plans of the architect J.E. Blaumann during the years 1774-1785, its destination being that of residence for the governor of Transylvania, Gyorgy Banffy.

A series of sculptures with remarkable artistic value made

by Anton Schuchbauer were added to the building in order to complete its stone architectural decorations.

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TOURISM

Romania to Enrich the UNESCO Heritage After the fall of the communist regime, Romania embarked on a comprehensive effort meant to see that a number of invaluable monuments are registered within the World Heritage of Humanity. Besides the Roman limes, there are 15 other monuments. Some of them were registered on the tentative list of 1991, but in the last 20 years, Romanian authorities have neglected proper support in this direction.

Among these monuments one could mention The Old Forest of Slătioara a spectacular forest, as well as the Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches of Curtea de Argeş. One of these is an Orthodox monastery founded in the Renaissance, which created a legend according to which the builder architect sacrifices everything for the sake of his creation. Curtea de Argeş Monastery is also the necropolis of the Romanian Royal Family. Another entry on the tentative list is The Beech Forest of the Carpathians, a Romanian site that would complement those already in the UNESCO heritage from Slovakia, Ukraine and Germany.

Also, the church in Densuş, one of the oldest places of worship in Romania, which was originally a Roman temple dedicated to their god Mars and later on transformed into a Christian basilica, is particularly spectacular.

Worth mentioning is also the famous church Trei Ierarhi from Iaşi, the place of worship where the princess of Moldavia once took part in Orthodox religious ceremonies.

The Monumental Ensemble of Targu-Jiu, the work of Romania’s most famous sculptor is also on the tentative list. The ensemble’s three parts are: The Constantin Brâncuşi – Endless Column Table of Silence, The

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Kiss Gate and The Endless Column. Constantin Brâncuşi wanted the assembly to honour the Romanian heroes who lost their lives during the First World War. Basarabi Cave Assembly is specific for the type of Christianity that developed in the Black Sea region in centuries X – XI, while Neamţ Monastery is a specific religious, medieval monument from Moldavia. Also listed is the historic city of Alba Iulia, Romania’s largest fortification built by the Habsburgs in the early eighteenth century. The fortress is star shaped.

Curtea de Argeş Monastery Other impressive monuments are: the fortified houses in Oltenia, tower shaped fortified residences of the olden days aristocracy; Retezat Mountains, famous for its glacial lakes; the mofette are also on the tentative list; the mountain known as Pietrosul Rodnei from Maramureş, one of the wildest, most spectacular areas of Europe, located really close to the geographical centre of the continent. The paleontological site of Sânpetru is also on the list as it contains extremely important vestiges for the prehistoric ages of Europe.

Noteworthy is also the historic centre of Sibiu, The European Capital of Culture of 2007 and one of the traditional capitals of Transylvania. Last on the list is the site of the village of Rimetea, the lost city of Székelys in The Apuseni Mountains, the only place in Romania where, because of the landscape, the sun rises twice a day. The village of Rimetea is directly competing with the Hungarian village of Holloko on the tentative lists.

TOURISM

Porolissum is part of the Roman Limes

The Roman Limes in Romania on the UNESCO Tentative List The Roman limes on the territory of present day Romania could become part of the World Heritage of Humanity.

The Ministry of Culture has already made the first step in this direction, namely registering on the UNESCO tentative list, which will be followed by inclusion in the World Heritage.

Heritage specialists say that, at least theoretically, the task of the Romanian authorities will be easier since the Roman limes in Germany were already registered on the UNESCO list, and, as such, the Roman limes from Romania could be accepted within the World Heritage of Humanity as an extension of the Roman fortifications from Germany.

On the territories of present day Transylvania, the Roman limes separated the Roman province of Dacia Felix from the barbarian world. It functioned as the fortified border of the Roman Empire. In addition to the border of the once Dacia Felix, on the territories of modern day Romania there is also the Roman limes with the function of defending the provinces of Moesia and Scythia Minor.

The fortified border of the Roman Empire stretched all the way down to the northern part of the Black Sea, via the Romanian historical province of Bessarabia, present

day Moldavia. Generally speaking, the Roman limes had a few standard components.

On the outside there was a deep wide moat, which stopped cavalry attacks, given that, most often, Roman provinces were attacked by enemies with excellent cavalries, whether one refers to the northern Pontic peoples, from Goths to Gepids, or to Sarmatian tribes. Then, with the soil extracted from these trenches, a mound was raised also for defence purposes. This mound was three metres high and 10-12 metres wide. The mound was filled with wooden palisades or with stone walls raised in the most vulnerable areas.

There was also a border crossing road used by the Roman patrols which guarded the limes as well as the infantry units. There were watch towers, here and there along with the famous Roman castrum where the various detachments guarding the Empire were stationed.

One of the most famous parts of the limes that protected the Roman Empire is known under the name of Hadrian’s Wall and was located in northern England. In Romania, it is known as Trajan’s Wall. The goal of the specialists is to register the Romanian limes in its entirety, within the World Heritage of Humanity.

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Training Champions: Polyvalent Hall and Cluj Arena

The construction of the Polyvalent Hall was finished in 2014 and ever since has put Cluj-Napoca on the map of European cities that can host indoors events, with tens of thousands of participants.

The Polyvalent Hall is able to house the following sports: karate, handball, gymnastics, fencing, boxing, basketball, five-a side football, badminton, bow, aikido, lawn tennis and table tennis. The multifunctional hall is acknowledged for national and international sports competitions.

Nearby The Polyvalent Hall, Cluj Arena is the newest and the biggest stadium in Transylvania. It has two covered tribunes and two covered lawns that can seat 30,020 fans.